I just had a very interesting first appointment... - Page 2

[hyz]

That just seems wrong! They're YOUR medical records/results, and I can't see how they could possibly have ANY right to withhold them from you. I'm going to ask some docs I know about this--that just seems illegal, not to mention unethical. I think you're very right to write a letter of complaint to your doc. And now you still don't know why you were measuring so big the first time! Just terrible. I'm mad FOR you!!

[minsch1]

I've got a call into my doc now - I'm just waiting to hear back.

I know the tech printed out pics for the doc. I'm hoping that after she's done with them, she'll let me at least see them, and hopefully keep them if she doesn't need to save them in my chart. That will be something at least.

I keep reminding myself that the important thing is that there was a baby with a healthy heartbeat who is measuring perfectly. It has become my mantra. (Now that I think about it, the tech said "there is one heartbeat" not "there is one baby," so now I'll obsess on that while I wait for my doc to call. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!)

[texaspeach]

sorry it didn't go better. I hope your doc calls you back soon!

I'm amazed that they wouldn't even let you see the screen. I know in the past when I have had ultrasounds on organs the tech has not been able to tell me anything because they aren't drs, but they always let me see.

[BlissfullyLoving]

Wow, I am so sorry. This sounds awful. I am often astounded by the medical society, but this is shocking! Hopefully the dr will make a copy of the pictures for you, but I cannot understand why they would not let you look at the screen. It is your body, your baby, and your decision. :

[Sigrid]

I'm sorry she was so rude. I agree with you going elsewhere for your "big" u/s. I can't imagine having to sit through that all over again.

[not now]

I think the reason might be because a tech can't diagnose anything, only a MD, or a midlevel practitioner. Reading your ultrasound and answering any questions that may come up can be considered giving a diagnosis. If the tech gives a wrong answer then all hell breaks loose. The hospital may be choosing to enforce this policy so the tech can't show you anything. Why can't you see the screen? Maybe to avoid potential questions "What's that?" "Is that my baby?" ect.

For example: I had a 17 year old who was hit by a car and broke his leg. He kept complaining of shoulder pain so two days into his admit an x-ray was done. I looked it up on the computer at work and it was a clean, very obvious break. Neither the radiologist or the attending had read the x-ray to diagnose him with a broken clavicle. I could not tell the mom anything without risking my job and my license, I can't give a medical diagnosis because I'd be "practicing medicine without a license" I practice nursing, not medicine. The only thing I could tell her was that the x-ray was up and waiting for interpretation.

I'm allowed to see my ultrasound at the hospital because the man was with me when I went. He's a mid-level in the ED so the techs know him, he has privileges in the hospital, he can diagnose and he's well trained to read an US.


ETA: I'm not defending the tech or the hospital policy I'm just giving a possible explanation.